Where can I get a barbecue worth having in the GTA? Good mixed plate plus all the usual things like beans, cornbread, pickles? Bonus if they don’t close by 6-7.
I thought the food at Beach Hill was quite good.
I haven’t found a place with good cornbread.
Barque on Roncy recently changed their concept. I haven’t been.
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I’ll second Beach Hill. All locations open until 8pm. I have not tried their cornbread and I don’t know if they have pickles. A girl can only eat so much.
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We haven’t found any BBQ in Toronto that is amazing. Most places we have tried have been decent, with some dishes being better than others. Pork ribs are often done well, smokey and tender. Brisket is usually a disappointment, often not cooked slowly and long enough for the collagen to break down and the smoke to penetrate.
We liked Beach Hill Smokehouse, particularly the beef rib, which is not consistently available (usually on a weekend).
Cherry St. Bar-B-Que didn’t impress us when we went many years ago, so we haven’t been back. I don’t remember the specifics anymore.
Carbon Bar is decent across the board, nothing amazing but all fairly good.
Breakwall has fairly good ribs and smoked wings.
We haven’t been to Barque in forever, I’m guessing because it didn’t make an impression.
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What woods do folks smoke with up there?
Cherry St. Bar-B-Que says they use white oak. Beach Hill Smokehouse says they focus on Central Texas style, but they don’t actually mention the wood they use. Carbon Bar also doesn’t mention what wood they use. Smoque N’ Bones says they use a mixture of hickory, sugar maple, and red oak.
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That Smoque & Bones wood blend takes a good swat at every meat one might bbq. I’m impressed.
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Adding my 2 cents.
For brisket my go-to is Carbon Bar.
For pulled pork I used to go to Stack which closed last year - still haven’t found a good replacement.
For ribs (pork) I’m still searching for anyone who doesn’t slather ketchup (or ketchup based sauce) on them - I have a tomato intolerance.
For sausage (smoked) I like Cowboy’s Grill (Yonge N of Davisville).
Have tried most of the others mentioned but am not a regular at any. Smoque 'n Bones is possibly my favourite ‘all-around’ but is sometimes a bit dry.
Cherry St. I ‘avoid’ - don’t understand why people rave about it.
Beach Hill, I haven’t revisited since ‘early Covid’ - just a bit further for me to travel although just OK, rather than good enough for the extra travel time.
Benny’s BBQ was - let’s just say I won’t be back.
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Ya same, wasn’t impressed at all. One and done for me.
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Beach hill smokehouse done. And done. Honestly? Not a good experience. We ordered a family platter for the four of us. We went to the bloor Street location - Andy maybe that was our mistake. (Best at the source? They told us it’s cooked at the Danforth store and sent over.) The restaurant was really cold, the food slightly less so. They’d ran out of sausage so offered us something in exchange. They suggested smoked chicken and I wasn’t Keen but the rest of the table said yes. Mistake. Every meat I ate was dry, none of it was even close to warm. The potato salad and coleslaw were boring, the beans the only slightly warm and more acceptable dish. Between the four of us we couldn’t finish the platter. I believe we could have had it been more juicy and warm. We divided the leftovers- mostly chicken of course- and chalked it up to experience. Then the worst part of the day was having been told earlier that marvelous by Fred was closing at 8:00, arrived at 7:4 0 to find it closed. It might have sweetened the end of a frustrating meal. I know my middle name is disappointed. On the other hand, I always hope not to be.
We ate the leftover slice of brisket and half a chicken yesterday and the only flavor was smoke. I will say, though, that the place smelled wonderful
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Most BBQ I have tried in Toronto and in Ontario (Paris, Langton, London, assorted Ribfests) has been dry.
I have only had great BBQ (9/10 or better ) 3 times in my life. Once in Bowling Green, KY, once in North Carolina, and once in Washington, DC.
I have only had Beach Hill BBQ at the location on the East side. I ate it in a park a few minutes after I ordered it.
I think the Smoque n’ Bones in the Baldwin Village might be a safe bet for most people. I could smell the BBQ when I walking past to pick up my sandwich at Alfie’s a couple weeks ago.
I think you might find Smoque n’ Bones meh.
I lower my expectations when dining out, so it’s a treat to dine out, no matter what.
If something is awful, I might warn others though a direct message.
@calam1ty, it sounds like you are disappointed by most of the food you have ordered in Toronto.
I hesitate to recommend anything if the feedback is always I’ve had better.
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No, no, please do. Disappointment doesn’t sit in Toronto alone. I’ve been disappointed in the gastronomic centres of the world 
Yes, I’ve had amazing food but rarely in the Star places. Please recommend! I have my loves and dislikes of course. Not keen on Greek or Jamaican in particular. I’ll make a list!
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okay, I will keep recommending LOL.
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Has anyone tried Brickyard BBQ?
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Just by appearances, I wouldn’t have eaten that and I’m a fan. Only ever eaten at the Main St location. This is what happens, i guess, when you expand your business too quickly.
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